Facility Safety Visualization for Transient and Quasi-Static Contact Risk

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing risk assessment methods for facilities, such as those described in Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2, struggle to intuitively convey the location of collisions and the degree of collision, and fail to effectively re-evaluate risks when protective devices are added. Additionally, these methods have difficulty distinguishing between transient and quasi-static contact risks.

Innovation Solution

An apparatus comprising a control device, a display device, and an input device, which acquires facilities data, determines reach, motion, and risk areas, and displays these areas in an overlapping manner on the display device. The apparatus specifically identifies transient contact and quasi-static contact risk areas, allowing for their distinguishable display.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If risk assessment is performed using simulation methods, then collision risk can be identified, but it is difficult to intuitively grasp the location and degree of collision

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecollision risk identificationVSAvoidintuitive understanding
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates a visual copy of the risk assessment results by displaying risk areas overlaid on facility layouts. Instead of showing raw simulation data, the system generates a visual representation where risk areas are displayed as colored regions corresponding to facility locations, making the abstract collision risk data intuitively understandable while maintaining measurement precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms one-dimensional simulation data into a two-dimensional visual display by overlaying risk areas on facility layouts. This dimensional transformation allows users to grasp the spatial location and extent of collision risks intuitively while preserving the precise measurement information from the simulation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If protective devices are added to reduce risk, then safety can be improved, but it is difficult to re-evaluate the risk reduction effect

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesafetyVSAvoidre-evaluation capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent performs preliminary risk assessment before protective devices are installed, creating a baseline risk area display. When protective devices are added, the system can re-evaluate by comparing the new risk assessment results with the baseline, making the re-evaluation process straightforward rather than complex.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides visual feedback by displaying risk areas before and after protective device installation. This feedback mechanism allows users to intuitively understand the risk reduction effect by comparing the overlaid risk area displays, eliminating the need for complex re-evaluation procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If both transient and quasi-static contact risks are assessed, then comprehensive safety evaluation is achieved, but it is difficult to distinguish between the two risk types

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverisk assessment comprehensivenessVSAvoidrisk type distinction
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the risk assessment results by displaying transient contact risk areas and quasi-static contact risk areas as distinct visual elements. By dividing the overall risk assessment into separate visual representations for each contact type, the system maintains comprehensive evaluation while preventing information loss about risk type distinctions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different visual properties to different risk types, such as different colors or display patterns for transient versus quasi-static contact risks. This local differentiation allows the system to maintain comprehensive risk assessment while ensuring that the distinction between risk types is preserved and easily identifiable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP4557030A1Apparatus, computer implemented method and program storage medium for supporting safety design
Publication Date: 2025.05.21 DENSO CORP
  • EP4557030A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4557030A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4557030A1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A support apparatus (1) inputs static data of facilities and dynamic data of the facilities to a control device (2). The support apparatus (1) includes a display device (31) as an output device (3). The control device (2) displays a transient contact risk area image and/or a quasi-static contact risk area image on an image of the facilities in an evaluation target space. If the transient contact risk area image is displayed, an evaluator intuitively understands an existence of the transient contact and a location of the transient contact. If the quasi-static contact risk area image is displayed, the evaluator intuitively understands an existence of the quasi-static contact and a location of the quasi-static contact. As a result, the evaluator can consider measures against the transient contact and/or the quasi-static contact.